“Jewess with Oranges” by Aleksander Gierymski

“Jewess with Oranges” by Aleksander Gierymski shows a Jewish shopkeeper, she has poor clothing, a cap on her head, and a scarf on her shoulders. The woman’s face is serious as she carries two baskets of oranges looking for customers. Her prominent wrinkles heighten the effect of hardship and toil, which emanate from her character.

The woman is the focal point, and neither the oranges with their bright colour or the background of roofs of houses and the Warsaw skyline, detract from the woman they only provide a context.

This painting was stolen during World War II and only reappeared in 2010. The painter signed his name prominently in the lower left corner and included the Polish name of the city where he painted the picture, Warszawa.